EXISTING BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Concurrently with the new Title 24 Part 6 regulations, the California Energy Commission has released a long-awaited report outlining the agencies action plan to bring energy efficiency to the existing building stock. The Governor recently cited the need to significantly increase energy efficiency in existing buildings as one of three energy-related policy priorities in his State of the State address.

The effort above will drive energy efficiency triggered by new construction (new buildings AND Tenant Improvements). The AB 758 program is designed to spur energy efficiency within EXISTING buildings, not necessarily undergoing renovations.

Required by Assembly Bill 758 (Statutes of 2009), the plan, according to the CEC, “provides a 10-year roadmap to dramatically increase energy efficiency in existing residential, commercial, and public buildings, consistent with Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s goal to double efficiency in California’s existing buildings by 2030.”

The CEC will be conducting hearings across the state to take testimony on this report with the first being scheduled for April 7th. CBPA will be representing the commercial real estate sector at each of these meeting, but need your input on the report.

If you own an existing building – or lease space in one – this regulation has the potential of impacting you! Please circulate this to interested individuals that can provide feedback to inform the industry comment.